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Grand Rapids, MI
Best Bars (Nightlife)
(10 Overall Closest) |
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Billy's |
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(Nightlife - Bars) |
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1437 Wealthy St SE, East Grand Rapids 49506 • 616-459-5757 |
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Description:
EASTOWN. This swanky, smoky East Tower is a great place to catch live jazz and blues. Chrome and red pleather furniture (actually a hodgepodge of tall bistro tables, snug cafe-style tables, and booths) flanks two sides of the intimate stage. Subdued lighting, even during daylight hours, adds to the joint's authenticity. A skilled ensemble of bartenders mixes up any libation you desire, and when the likes of the Fatt Lapp Blues Band, Harry Lucas and the Lowdowns, Blue Nebula, and Jimmie Stagger hit the stage – well, there's nothing like good, old-fashioned jazz and blues to cure what ails you. |
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Cottage Bar & Restaurant |
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(Nightlife - Bars) |
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18 La Grave Ave SE, Grand Rapids 49503 • 616-454-9088 |
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Description:
DOWNTOWN. A favorite of downtown business-types and Grand Rapids Press reporters (thanks to its award-winning burgers and chili), the Cottage offers a cozy, almost neighborly atmosphere that makes it an ideal place to enjoy a hot lunch with family and friends. House specialties include grilled Alaskan salmon burgers and South Pacific grilled yellow fin tuna. The attractive Art Deco bar, the oldest in Grand Rapids, is a terrific place to enjoy a happy hour cocktail or a tall mug of cold draft beer. |
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Flanagan's |
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(Nightlife - Bars) |
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139 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids 49503 • 616-454-7852 |
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Description:
DOWNTOWN. Likely one of the few places in town where you'll find Guinness Stout on tap and Jameson Whiskey behind the counter, this Pearl Street staple brandishes the quintessential "pub look" – dark-stained trimwork and furniture, a beautiful antique bar, and cozy wooden booths. Add to the mix their unique menu, which features such staples as smelt fries, Irish stew, corned beef and cabbage, and fish-n-chips, as well as a variety of more Americanized bar standards like sandwiches, salads, and soups. Flanagan's features live local bands four nights a week. |
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User Rating: 9 / 10
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Founders Taproom |
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(Nightlife - Bars) |
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235 Grandville Ave SW Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids 49503 • 616-776-1195 |
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Description:
WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. A short distance from Grand Rapids' downtown scene, this beautiful brew pub is popular not only as an upscale place to toss back a few hand-crafted ales and lagers but also as a terrific dinnertime destination – rumor has it their barbecue is unmatched. Located in the historic Wolverine Brass Building (circa 1904), the Founders Taproom sports weathered brick walls, dark-stained oak columns and trimwork, and exposed brickwork, showcasing some of the structure's original architectural integrity and style. Enjoy live local bands or just watching the brewing process as you sip on a frosty mug of Founders IPA, Weizenbeer, or Porter. Founders Taproom also features a pool table for those wanting to work off a few calories with some "moderate exercise." |
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GP Sports |
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(Nightlife - Bars) |
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187 Monroe Ave NW Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids 49503 • 616-776-6495 |
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Description:
DOWNTOWN. A terrific place to catch your favorite sport on the tube, the Amway Grand's sports bar offers an upscale but casual setting that attracts the hotel's well-heeled guests along with a few downtown business types looking to network. The menu, a nod above your standard "pub grub," features a variety of à la carte options like pizza, burgers, salads, and soups. After chowing down, "work off" your meal playing one of their interactive sports games ... or just veg out in front of their giant screen TV. |
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J. Gardella's Tavern |
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(Nightlife - Bars) |
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11 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids 49503-4113 • 616-459-8824 |
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Description:
DOWNTOWN. Few downtown bars offer the unique mix of casual atmosphere and upscale setting that J. Gardella's, fortunately, manages to pull off. This multi-level nightspot, located in a beautifully restored building less than a block from Van Andel Arena, is often packed with members of the young professional crowd, who enjoy sipping imported beers and martinis in a cozy setting of exposed brick walls, wood trim, high ceilings, antique bars, and dark hardwood flooring. The fabulous menu is a big hit with families, and there are few souls who can resist the kitchen's massive burgers and homemade potato chips. |
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User Rating: 9.25 / 10
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Margarita Grille |
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(Nightlife - Bars) |
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25 Ottawa St Sw, Grand Rapids 49503 • 616-988-4330 |
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Description:
DOWNTOWN. Usually the first place mentioned when you ask a local where to find good Mexican, the energetic Margarita Grille is home to, perhaps, Grand Rapids' tastiest and most potent margaritas. The Grill claims one of the area's more eclectic interiors, with its eye-popping murals hand-painted onto brick walls, stylish bistro tables, ceramic floors, exposed ductwork, and a sleek bar area. The menu features chimichangas, fajitas, steak ranchero, and a wide range of combination platters. After dinner and drinks, head to the dance floor. DJs or local bands keep the party going late, especially on nights when there's an event at Van Andel Arena across the street. |
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User Rating: 8 / 10
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Mulligan's Pub |
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(Nightlife - Bars) |
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1518 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids 49506 • 616-451-0775 |
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Description:
Eastown's version of a neighborhood watering hole, this dive offers a dark, cozy setting no matter the time of day. Rub shoulders with locals at the spacious rectangular bar, enjoy a game on the tube and a few cold beers, or just wriggle your way into one of the snug booths with a newspaper and catch up on current events. The dark paneled walls are littered with beer-related posters and sports souvenirs of all types. A small games area (which appears deceptively large thanks to a 15-plus foot ceiling) in the rear of the building offers an additional option with its pool table and video games. |
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Tap House Lounge |
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(Nightlife - Bars) |
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8 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids 49503 • 616-774-3338 |
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Description:
DOWNTOWN. A favorite watering hole on nights when something's going on at the Van Andel Arena – or on any night, for that matter – Tap House is famous for its 30 flavors of cold brew, its great grub, and its friendly atmosphere. Enjoy everything from a 12-oz. rib-eye with garlic potatoes to Brit-style fish-n-chips to a Black Angus burger prepared any way you like. Bistro-style tables surround the downstairs bar, and the exposed brick walls and wood-beamed ceiling add a rustic quality to the place. |
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Uccello's Pizzeria Grille & Sports Lounge |
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(Nightlife - Bars) |
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2630 E Beltline Ave SE, Grand Rapids 49546-5912 • 616-954-2002 |
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Description:
EAST GRAND RAPIDS. A pizza joint and sports bar hybrid, Uccello's is a staple when you want to celebrate a big event or just hang out with friends and watch the big game. Multiple televisions are strategically scattered throughout the place, and while the lounge offers quintessential sports bar decor, the dining area offers a low-key, family-friendly option. Rumor has it that their pizzas are among the best in town, and regulars swear by the cheese pie topped with jalapenos. In addition, the menu features pasta dishes, grilled meats and seafood, and hot sandwiches. Pool tables and trivia offer a terrific way to break up the evening. |
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User Rating: 6 / 10
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